Nectarine tree named &#39;CAKESNOW&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of white flat nectarine tree denominated ‘CAKESNOW’ has fruits with high eating quality and very long shelf life without alteration before and after harvesting, with a very well closed pistil cavity, a semi-sweet white flesh with a red pigmentation around the stone, and an attractive luminous skin with a high percentage of purple red blush on skin surface, on a red background.

This application claims priority of Community plant variety right No. 2016/2952 filed on Nov. 25, 2016 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.

Variety denomination: ‘CAKESNOW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of white flat nectarine tree, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, which has been given the variety denomination ‘CAKESNOW’.

This new tree produces fruits with a long shelf life without alteration both on the tree after growth completion and after harvesting, very good eating quality, semi-clingstone white flesh fruits with a very slightly red pigmentation around the stone, for fresh market in the middle or at the end of July in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The ‘CAKESNOW’ white flat nectarine tree originated from a cultivated area of the south of France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, where it was tested.

This place is under a Mediterranean climate (a temperate area), on the Mediterranean coastline. Winters are gentle and summers warm and dry. The amount of days with temperatures below 7° Celsius can vary between 600 and 1200 hours per year. The place is sunny, with 2400 to 2800 hours of sunny days per year on average. The prevailing wind is called ‘Tramontane’: it dries the air, clears the sky from clouds, but its intensity can be strong and affect the harvest, fruit quantity and/or quality. Marine moisture does not affect the place. Precipitations are irregular through the year and from one year to another. The amount of rainy days does not exceed 80 days per year, and are mostly found in Spring and Autumn. In May and October, very intense precipitations occasionally happen. Summer is dry with a few thunderstorms.

The ‘CAKESNOW’ variety results from controlled cross between the ‘NECTARRELIE’ white nectarine tree (not patented) which was used as the seed parent and the ‘CAKEDELICE’ white flat nectarine tree (not patented) which was used as the pollen parent.

The ‘CAKESNOW’ variety was obtained by hybridizing and propagated by grafting on a ‘INRA® GF677’ (non-patented) rootstock trees. It has been determined to have unique tree and fruit characteristics making it worthy for commercial fresh fruit production. There are no known effects of the standard rootstock trees set forth above on the scion cultivar. Asexually propagated plants remained true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and the fruit were transmitted. The plant was reproduced asexually by us in Les Régalines, Route d′Alenya, La Prade de Mousseillous, 66200 ELNE, Pyrénées-Orientales, France. More particularly, the plant was reproduced by grafting.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety ‘CAKESNOW’ white flat nectarine tree blooms at the end of February or in March near Elne in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. The blooming period is considered medium. However, it was observed that its late date of blooming seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

The first fruit of ‘CAKESNOW’ ripens generally at medium season, in the middle or at the end of July. More particularly, it usually ripens between July 11^(th) and July 24^(th). However, it was observed that its date of maturity seems to be highly dependant on climatic conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing, which are as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this type:

FIG. 1 is a color photograph which shows a view of a tree of the new variety in orchard, bearing fruits.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph which shows a close view of a typical specimen of a fruit of the variety ‘CAKESNOW’ on the tree in orchard.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph which depicts the flower buds at different development stages, and the reverse and side view of the flower and the reproductive organs with petals removed, of the new variety.

FIG. 4 is a color photograph that shows a close view of three typical specimens of the fruit of the new variety ‘CAKESNOW’ at ripening time, one fruit having been cut in half with the pit being left in one of the halves for depicting leaves, fruit flesh, pit and pit cavity of the new variety.

FIG. 5 is a color photograph that shows a close view of typical specimens of the fruit of the new variety ‘CAKESNOW’ at ripening time.

FIG. 6 is a color photograph of the stone of the new variety and the kernel of the stone.

Due to chemical development, processing and printing, the flowers, stones and fruits depicted in these photographs may or may not be accurate when compared to the actual botanical specimen.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The tree, flowers, and fruit may vary in slight detail due to variations in soil type, cultural practices, and climatic condition. The potential for commercial production of fresh fruits by ‘CAKESNOW’ is high, due to fruit very long shelf life without alteration after harvesting.

Trees are vigorous and large stature half-standing in a semi-flared out aspect. The anthocyanic coloration of flowering shoot is present excluding brushwood side away from sun. The time of beginning of flowering is considered medium; flowering begins at the end of February or in March. The type of flower is showy with medium petal size. Petals are medium pink. Leaf glands are present and reniform. The fruit flesh is white and generally with a red pigmentation around the stone cavity. The fruit skin is very thick, with a luminous purple red blush on a red background. The stone is semi-clingstone and his size is small. Fruit taste is semi-sweet, very aromatic and with a high level of sugars.

Compared to ‘CAKEREDAL’ white flat nectarine tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No 23,358), the fruits of ‘CAKESNOW’ variety ripen approximately at the same time. The fruits from ‘CAKESNOW’ variety are rounder and more regular than fruits from ‘CAKEREDAL’ variety. ‘CAKESNOW’ fruits show a more intense color, a luminous purple red on the whole fruit skin, whereas the fruits of ‘CAKEREDAL’ have a dark red color covering 80 to 90% of the skin surface on a cream pink red background. ‘CAKESNOW’ fruits show a very well closed pistil cavity. In comparison, the ‘CAKEREDAL’ fruits possess a pistil cavity barely closed.

Compared to the seed parent ‘NECTARRELIE’ (not patented), the new variety named ‘CAKESNOW’ is a white flat nectarine whereas ‘NECTARRELIE’ is a white round nectarine. ‘NECTARRELIE’ is much earlier than ‘CAKESNOW’ as its fruit generally ripen 1 month earlier.

Compared to the pollen parent ‘CAKEDELICE’ white flat nectarine tree (not patented), the new variety named ‘CAKESNOW’ generally ripens 1 week earlier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of white flat nectarine tree, the following was observed on trees in their fourth growing season (third year of production) under the ecological conditions prevailing at the orchards located near the town of Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France. All observations have been done on rootstock cultivars. Used rootstocks were ‘INRA® GF677’ (non-patented) trees. All major color code designations are by reference to The R.H.S. Color Chart (Fourth Edition) provided by The Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—         -   Generally.—Considered large. The tree size the first year             was approximately 200 to 280 cm. The tree was pruned during             each following dormant season to a height of approximately             250 cm. Current season shoots growth could reach 80 cm. The             tree size from the second year (second and next years)             reached a final height of 330 cm including current season             shoots length. The tree size is consistently reduces to 250             cm the next years.         -   Spread.—Approximately 100 cm with a cylindrical shape. The             whole orchard was oriented to a central leader organization,             with tree lines spaced of 4.0 meters and trees spaced of 1.0             meter in a same tree line. As a result, tree spread was             about 100 cm and the orchard contained 2500 trees by             hectare.         -   Vigor.—Considered medium.         -   Productivity.—The productivity is considered good to very             good and regular. Fruit set is spaced by thinning to develop             the remaining fruit into the desired market sized fruit. The             number of the fruit set varies with the prevailing climatic             conditions and cultural practices employed during the bloom             period, and is therefore not distinctive of the present             variety. A reduce vegetation, obtained with pruning or green             pruning, approximately 1 month or 1 month ½ before             harvesting flat fruits, significantly promotes fruit             qualities, especially growth, color and firmness. Moreover,             contamination risks due to monilia or rot are significantly             reduced. ‘CAKESNOW’ variety is not much sensitive to             cracking of pistil cavity, to cork formation into peduncle             cavity or to monilia.         -   Bearer.—Very regular. The fruit distribution is considered             homogenous on mixed branches and spurs having more than 1             year. Thinning of 2 fruits out of 3 was necessary for the             tree valorisation. Thinning was necessary every year during             the years of observation.         -   Form.—The ‘CAKESNOW’ variety has naturally a semi-flared             shape.         -   Density.—Considered dense.         -   Hardiness.—The present tree was grown and evaluated in             France. The variety appears to be hardy under the central             Pyrénées-Orientales departement typical climatic conditions.             Experimentations on different sites with winter chilling             requirement comprised between 350 hours and 1200 hours             showed a good behaviour of the tree in all cases.             Traditionally, flat fruits are more sensitive to critical             low temperatures and to climatic variations, because of the             flower morphology in which the ovule is less protected than             in the classical round fruits. Thus, areas not much exposed             to frost are recommended for trees growth. However             ‘CAKESNOW’ trees seem to be very resistant to critical             frosty weather. -   Trunk:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 40.0 to 45.0 millimeters in diameter             when measured at a distance of approximately 20.0             centimeters above the soil level.         -   Bark texture.—Considered rough, with lenticels.         -   Lenticels.—Numerous lenticels are present. The number of             lenticels reaches 4 lenticels per cm². The lenticels range             in size of approximately from 3.0 to 3.8 millimeters in             width, and about 1.5 to 1.9 millimeters in height.         -   Lenticel color.—The lenticels have a beige to orange color             (RHS Greyed Orange 164 B or RHS Greyed Orange 164 C).         -   Bark coloration.—The bark has a grey color at its base (RHS             Grey 201 A or RHS Grey 201 B) to brown (RHS Grey Brown N 199             A or RHS Grey Brown N 199 B), darker than the lenticels             color. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—The branches are pruned to approximately 1.0 meter in             length.         -   Diameter.—Average as compared to other nectarine varieties.             The current season shoots have a diameter of about 4.0 to             6.0 millimeters, and mature branches have a diameter of             about 8.0 to 10.0 millimeters.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth for current season shoots and rough,             with lenticels, for mature branches, wood which is several             years old has no furrowed appearance.         -   Crotch angles.—Primary branches are considered variable, but             the crotch angles are generally of 50 degrees from the             horizontal axis. This particular characteristic is not             considered distinctive of the variety, however.         -   Current season shoots.—         -   Internode length.—Generally 14.0 to 20.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—The color of new shoot tips is considered green (RHS             Yellow Green 144 B or RHS Yellow Green 144 C) on lower part             of new shoot tips, whereas the upper part is darker and             colored in brown-purple (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A), depending             on the level on the tip and the sunlight exposure.         -   Mature branches.—         -   Internode length.—Generally 21.0 to 25.0 millimeters.         -   Color of mature branches.—Brown (RHS Grey Brown 199 A or RHS             Grey Brown N 199 A).         -   Lenticels.—Lenticels are present on mature branches. The             number of lenticels reaches 2 lenticels per cm². The size of             lenticels is considered small. The lenticels range in size             from approximately 1.7 to 2.2 millimeters in width, and             about 1.0 to 1.2 millimeters in height. The lenticel shape             is stretched.         -   Lenticel color.—The lenticels on mature branches have a             beige color (RHS Greyed Orange 164 C or RHS Greyed Orange             164 D). -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Considered medium for the specie. The ratio leaf             length/leaf width is 4.59.         -   Leaf length.—Approximately 145.0 to 162.0 millimeters with             leaf petiole. The medium length is about 155.2 millimeters.         -   Leaf width.—Approximately 31.0 to 36.0 millimeters. The             medium width is 33.8 millimeters.         -   Leaf base shape.—Concave.         -   Leaf form.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf tip form.—Short, pointed and acuminate.         -   Leaf color.—         -   Upper leaf surface.—Dark Green (RHS Green 137 A).         -   Lower surface.—A lighter green (RHS Yellow Green 146 A) than             the upper leaf surface color.         -   Leaf texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnately veined.         -   Mid-vein.—         -   Color.—Light green, almost cream white (RHS Yellow Green             145D). The color may evolve with maturity.         -   Leaf margins.—Slightly undulating.         -   Form.—Considered slightly dentate.         -   Uniformity.—Leaves are isolated or grouped by 2 or 3. In             this last case, one leaf of normal size is found with one or             two smaller leaves (at least 50% smaller).         -   Leaf petioles.—.         -   Size.—Considered medium.         -   Length.—About 12.0 to about 14.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—About 2.0 millimeters.         -   Petioles color.—         -   Upper petiole surface.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 144 B).         -   Lower surface.—Light green (RHS Yellow Green 145 B).         -   Leaf glands.—         -   Size.—Considered medium. Their length is about 1.5             millimeters and their width is about 1.0 millimeter.         -   Number.—Generally 2 glands per leaf.         -   Type.—Reniform.         -   Margins.—Smooth and regular.         -   Color.—On young leaves, leaf glands color is considered a             light green (RHS Green 145 B). On older leaves, leaf glands             color turns to a dark brown (RHS Grey Brown 199 A to RHS             Grey Brown 199 B).         -   Leaf stipules.—         -   Generally.—No leaf stipules were observed. But as seen in             the characteristic relative to the leaves uniformity, it is             possible to find leaves by groups of 2 or 3, with a             normal-size leaf and smaller ones. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower buds.—         -   Generally.—At pre-floral stage of development, the floral             buds are conic in form with a round tip. Their form is             evolving until blooming, with variables dimensions. Just             before blooming, floral buds are approximately 8.0 to 10.0             millimeters wide and approximately 16.0 to 20.0 millimeters             long.         -   Color.—This characteristic is dependent upon the proximity             to bloom. At pre-floral stage of development (stage A), the             bottom of the flowers buds, formed by the sepals, is of             purple-brown color (RHS Greyed Purple 183 A) on their outer             surface, and yellow green (RHS Yellow Green 146 C) on their             inner surface. The corolla, formed by the petals, is             generally of medium pink color (RHS Red Purple 65 B) on both             faces. Petals color shows an evolution until the end of             flowering.         -   Hardiness.—The buds are considered hardy under typical             central Pyrénées-Orientales departement climatic conditions.             No winter injury was noted during the last several years of             evaluation in the central Pyrénées-Orientales departement,             with winter temperatures as low as −10 degrees Celsius in             January. The current variety has not been intentionally             subjected to drought or heat stress, but the variety showed             a very good resistance in orchard to temperatures up to 42             degrees Celsius with an average temperature between 28 and             30 degrees Celsius during 3 weeks in summer.         -   Date of bloom.—The blooming time generally begins at the end             of February or in March. The first bloom was observed on             Mar. 16, 2015.         -   Blooming time.—Considered medium in relative comparison to             other commercial nectarine cultivars grown in the             Pyrénées-Orientales departement, France. The date of full             bloom is observed generally at the middle of the blooming             period. The date of bloom varies slightly with climatic             conditions and cultural practices. Thus the full bloom was             observed in 2015, from Mar. 16 until Mar. 25, then from Feb.             28 until Mar. 6, 2016 and then from Feb. 28 until Mar. 8,             2017.         -   Duration of bloom.—Medium. Approximately between 8 to 10             days. This characteristic varies slightly with the             prevailing climatic conditions.         -   Flower type.—The variety is considered to have a showy type             flower.         -   Flower size.—Considered medium. Flower diameter at full             bloom is approximately 32.0 to 36.0 millimeters.         -   Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant, approximately between             35 and 45 flowers per meter, with a high rate of fruit set.             The bloom is heterogeneous, and the bloom quantity is more             important on the top of the tree.         -   Flower bud frequency.—Generally 2 flower buds appear per             node, occasionally 1.         -   Petal size.—.         -   Generally.—Considered medium.         -   Length.—Generally between 17.0 and 20.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Generally between 16.0 and 19.0 millimeters.         -   Petal form.—Round-shaped.         -   Petal count.—Generally 5.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth and soft.         -   Petal color.—At the stage F of blooming, when the flower is             fully opened, both surfaces of the petal are colored with a             medium Pink (RHS Red Purple 65 A or RHS Red Purple 65 B or             RHS Red Purple 65C or RHS Red Purple 65 D) when young,             becoming slightly darker until the end of blooming.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet to moderate.         -   Petal claw.—         -   Form.—The claw is considered to have a narrow form.         -   Color.—Dark pink (RHS Red Purple 61 B), darker than the             petal color.         -   Length.—About 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—About 1.0 to 1.5 millimeter at the base.         -   Petal margins.—Generally considered wavy, sinuate.         -   Petal apex.—         -   Generally.—The petal apices are generally wide dome-shaped.         -   Flower pedicel.—         -   Length.—Considered medium and having an average length of             approximately 3.0 to 4.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Considered average, approximately 1.0 to 1.5             millimeters.         -   Color.—Green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A).         -   Calyx.—         -   Internal surface texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Color.—At the stage F of blooming, when the flower is             opened, the inner surface of the calyx, namely the flower             receptacle, is greenish yellow to slightly orange (RHS             Yellow Green 153 C or RHS Yellow Green 153 D). The outer             surface of the calyx is considered of purple-brown (RHS             Greyed Purple 183 A or RHS Greyed Purple 187 B) color.         -   Sepals.—         -   Sepal count.—5.         -   Surface texture.—The outer surface has a short, fine             pubescent texture.         -   Margins.—smooth.         -   Size.—Medium.         -   Length.—Approximately 5.0 to 6.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 4.0 to 5.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Conic and generally with a round tip.         -   Color.—At pre-floral stage of development (stage A) the             sepals are colored in purple-brown color (RHS Greyed Purple             183 A) on their outer surface, and yellow green (RHS Yellow             Green 146 C) on their inner surface. At the stage F of             blooming, the inner surface of the sepals is considered             greenish yellow (RHS Yellow Green 153 C or RHS Yellow Green             153 D or RHS Yellow Green 147 C). The outer surface of the             sepals is considered of purple-brown color (RHS Greyed             Purple 183 A or RHS Greyed Purple 187 B).         -   Average number of stamens per flower.—Approximately 29 to 40             stamens per flower.         -   Anthers.—         -   Generally.—medium in length.         -   Color.—At an early stage of maturity, anthers are colored             with an orange yellow (RHS Yellow Orange 16 A to RHS Yellow             Orange 16 B) or an orange red to red color (RHS Red Group             N34 A or RHS Greyed Red Group 178 A or RHS Red 47 A). The             color may evolve with maturity to turn in a yellow color.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Pollen production.—Pollen is abundant, and has an orange             yellow color (Approximately RHS Yellow Orange 15 B or RHS             Yellow Orange 17 B or RHS Yellow Orange 17 C) which may             evolve with maturity. The present variety is considered             auto-fertile (self-pollinating).         -   Filaments.—         -   Size.—Medium length, between 12.0 and 16.0 millimeters in             length. Filaments length is generally slightly higher than             the pistil's length.         -   Color.—Considered white (RHS White 155 D) or pale pink (RHS             Red Purple 62 C or RHS Red Purple 62 D or RHS Red Purple             69 C) or darker pink (RHS Red Purple 73 A to RHS Red Purple             73 B). The color becomes darker during the blooming.         -   Pistil.—         -   Number.—Usually 1, sometimes more than one.         -   Generally.—Average in size.         -   Length.—Approximately 12.0 to 18.0 millimeters including the             ovary. Generally smaller than stamen length.         -   Color.—Considered a very pale green (RHS Yellow Green Group             151 D) at the beginning of the blooming. The color evolves             during the blooming, becoming more light (RHS Yellow Green             150 D or RHS Yellow Green 151 D) and sometimes very slightly             pink (RHS Red Group 36D) at the end of the blooming.         -   Ovary.—         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Height.—Between 1.5 and 2.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Between 1.5 and 2.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—Green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A or RHS Yellow Green 145             B).         -   Stamen.—size compared to petals — The size of stamen is             smaller than the size of petals.         -   Stigma.—         -   Position compared to anthers.—The stigma is below the             anthers.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.0 millimeter.         -   Color.—Greenish Yellow (RHS Yellow Green 151 D). -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Very firm in ripe conditions             (shipping ripe).         -   Date of first picking.—Jul. 11, 2014.         -   Date of last picking.—The date of harvest varies slightly             with the prevailing climatic conditions. The ‘CAKESNOW’             variety has a medium date of picking, and a grouped             maturity. The maturity is grouped within 8 to 12 days and             the harvest is generally performed in two runs. Last known             picking times carry on Jul. 11 to Jul. 18, 2014, then on             Jul. 20 to Jul. 31, 2015, then on Jul. 24 to Jul. 31, 2016             and then on Jul. 17 to Jul. 23, 2017.         -   Size.—         -   Generally.—Homogeneous in size. Considered medium to large.         -   Average cheek diameter.—Approximately 68.0 to 74.0             millimeters.         -   Average axial diameter.—Approximately 43.0 to 48.0             millimeters.         -   Typical weight.—Generally about 125.0 to 150.0 grams. This             characteristic is high dependent upon the prevailing             cultural practices, and therefore is not particularly             distinctive of the variety.         -   Fruit form.—         -   Generally.—Round and flattened, generally with few bump. The             fruit is generally uniform in symmetry, viewed from the             suture's plane.         -   Suture.—         -   Fruit suture.—Wide-mouthed and slightly marked, extending             from the base to the apex. No apparent callousing or             stitching exists along the suture line. Not pointed.         -   Color.—The suture has generally a similar color to the whole             fruit color, a luminous purple red (RHS Greyed Purple 187             B).         -   Ventral surface.—         -   Form.—Smooth.         -   Apex.—slightly depressed.         -   Base.—Semi-flared, shallow.         -   Stem cavity.—Average depth of the stem cavity is about 9.0             to 11.0 millimeters. Average width is about 16.0 to 20.0             millimeters.         -   Fruit skin.—         -   Thickness.—Considered thick and strong, and the adherence of             skin to flesh is strong to medium, depending on the fruit             maturity.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Taste.—Semi-sweet, sugary.         -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.         -   Color.—         -   Blush color.—This blush color is a luminous purple red (RHS             Greyed Purple 187 B). The purple red blush covers 85% of the             fruit skin surface on a red background (RHS Greyed Red             180 A) on approximately 15% of the fruit skin surface. The             percentage of the blush on the fruit skin surface can vary,             and is generally dependant upon the prevailing conditions             under which the fruit was grown.         -   Ground color.—The ground color covers approximately 15% of             the fruit skin surface, and is considered red (RHS Greyed             Red 180 A).         -   Fruit stem.—Medium in length, approximately 6.0 to 7.0             millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.0 millimeters.         -   Color.—Pale green (RHS Yellow Green 145 A).         -   Flesh.—         -   Ripens.—Very homogenously, slowly. The flesh has a long             shelf life.         -   Texture.—Very firm, very dense, crunchy, melting, juicy at             harvest maturity stage.         -   Fibers.—Not fibrous.         -   Aroma.—Very pronounced.         -   Eating quality.—Considered very good, aromatic.         -   Flavor.—Considered semi-sweet. The Brix is generally             superior to 13 and acidity comprised between 6 and 9 meq/100             ml.         -   Juice.—Juicy to very juicy at complete maturity.         -   Brix.—Generally 14.0 to 16.0 degrees. This characteristic             varies slightly with the number of fruit per tree;             prevailing cultural practices; and the surrounding climatic             conditions.         -   Flesh color.—White flesh (RHS White 155 A), usually with a             slightly red pigmentation (RHS Red 53 B) around the stone,             on approximately 5.0 millimeters. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Semi-Clingstone, more or less semi-adherent depending             on the fruit maturity.         -   Size.—Considered small for the variety. The stone size             varies significantly depending upon the tree vigor, crop             load and prevailing growing conditions.         -   Length.—Approximately 14.0 to 15 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 20.0 to 21.0 millimeters.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 20.0 to 21.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Flattened.         -   Base.—Straight.         -   Apex.—         -   Shape.—The stone apex is flattened.         -   Stone cavity.—Considered small in size, with flattened form             and dimensions corresponding to the stone's dimensions.         -   Stone surface.—         -   Surface texture.—The pit is transversely furrowed on its             entire surface. Furrows are deeper and more oblate on             lateral sides.         -   Ridges.—The surface texture is generally characterized by             more prominent ridges along the ventral edges and at the             apical tip.         -   Ventral edge.—         -   Width.—approximately 3.0 millimeters at mid-suture.         -   Dorsal edge.—         -   Shape.—Grooved.         -   Stone color.—The color of the dry stone is generally             considered light orange brown (RHS Greyed Orange 164 C or             RHS Greyed Orange 164 D).         -   Tendency to split.—Splitting is very low or absent,             depending on climatic conditions between blooming period and             stone hardening.         -   Kernel.—         -   Size.—The kernel is considered small.         -   Length.—Approximately 9.0 millimeters.         -   Width.—Approximately 9.0 millimeters.         -   Thickness.—Approximately 6.0 millimeters.         -   Form.—Considered flattened and elliptic. Sometimes double.         -   Pellicle.—The pellicle of the kernel has a short pubescence.         -   Color.—The kernel skin is yellow colored (RHS Yellow 11D).             The almond, which is the seed of the kernel, is white (RHS             White 155 D) and has a bitter tasting. The kernel and its             embryo are mature at the time of fruit maturity.         -   Use.—The subject variety ‘CAKESNOW’ is considered to be a             white flat nectarine tree of the medium season of maturity,             and which produces fruits that are considered firm,             attractively colored with a very luminous purple red and             with a very well closed pistil cavity. Fruits have a             semi-sweet taste and are excellent for uncooked consumption,             crunchy or melting when at full maturity. Fruits have             excellent gustative qualities. Due to their flesh quality,             firmness and density, they can also be commercialized as             4^(th) range product (packed fruit or fruit in bags for             example). And they are also useful for both local and very             long distance shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Remarkable. Fruit have a slow maturation             and a long shelf life both on the tree after growth             completion and after harvesting without alteration. After             growth completion, fruits are preserved more than one week.             After harvest, fruits are well preserved more than 4 weeks             at 2.0 degree Celsius.         -   Shipping quality.—Considered very good. The fruit of the new             white flat nectarine variety showed minimal bruising of the             flesh or skin damage after being subjected to normal             harvesting and packing procedures. Its resistance to             handling during harvest and packing and its long shelf life             without alteration after harvest easily permit 3 to 4             weeks-shipping at 2 degrees Celsius.         -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular             susceptibilities were noted. The present variety is not very             sensitive to Monilia or rot. The pistil cavity is completely             closed, generally without any cork formation. Although the             new variety of white flat nectarine tree possesses the             described characteristics when grown under the ecological             conditions prevailing near Elne, Pyrénées-Orientales             departement, France, it should be understood that variations             of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to             changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest             control and horticultural management are to be expected. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of white flat nectarine tree as illustrated and described, characterized by fruits with high eating quality and very long shelf life without alteration before and after harvesting, with a very well closed pistil cavity, a semi-sweet white flesh with a red pigmentation around the stone, and an attractive luminous skin with a high percentage of purple red blush on skin surface, on a red background. 